'Perfect World Cup preparation': England out to topple France
Josh Butler of Leeds Rhinos and Martin Norris of Wigan Warriors are notable inclusions in a 10-player England wheelchair squad for the mid-season international against France in Manchester this month, which includes players from five different clubs.
Butler, a 20-year-old from Kippax whose hopes of following in the footsteps of his rugby league hero, Kevin Sinfield, were initially frustrated by a rapid deterioration in his eyesight, has earned a first senior England call.
He is joined in the squad by Rhinos team-mates Nathan Collins and Tom Halliwell, who is England's captain.
Norris was a member of the first Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby League team in 2006 and captained the side from 2008-14. He has impressed following his recall to the squad after a seven-year absence for the games against France last autumn. He is joined by Wigan team-mates Adam Rigby and Dec Roberts.
Joe Coyd and Lewis King represent London Roosters, a club who were formed last winter to represent talent from the south of England, while 2019 Young Player of the Year, Rob Hawkins, has continued his development with Halifax Panthers and keeps his place in the team
Catalans Dragons, who will face Leeds Rhinos in the Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup Final on June 25, are the fifth club represented in the squad through Sebastian Bechara, whose mother is English.
Meanwhile, France co-coaches Sylvain Crismanovich and Laurent Dupuy will hand debuts to SO Avignon’s Florian Guttadoro and Handi Dragons’ Damien Dore but will be without experienced campaigners Jeremy Bourson, Gilles Clausells, Nicolas Clausells and Deny Denuwelaere who do not travel.
England coach Tom Coyd said: "This was a tough selection, after our final training camp at UCLAN in Preston on Challenge Cup Final weekend, but that is the way we'd want it in World Cup year.
"To face France in a mid-season international is perfect preparation for the World Cup. It's exciting that we’ve picked a young squad – and we have more strength in depth than ever thanks to the increased intensity of our domestic competitions."
France co-coach Laurent Dupuy said: “The recent French Elite Championship final between Pandas Montalbanais and Dragons Catalans has shown that many of our players are in good shape. There is good competition for places and it is important that our young group seize the opportunity.”
England: Tom Halliwell (Leeds Rhinos, captain), Seb Bechara (Catalans Dragons), Josh Butler (Leeds Rhinos), Nathan Collins (Leeds Rhinos), Joe Coyd (London Roosters), Rob Hawkins (Halifax Panthers), Lewis King (London Roosters), Martin Norris (Wigan Warriors), Adam Rigby (Wigan Warriors), Declan Roberts (Wigan Warriors).
France: Abassi Mostefa (Saint-Jory), Alazard Lionel (Montauban), Duhalde Thomas (Euskadi), Guttadoro Florian (SO Avignon), Dore Damien (Dragons Handi), Mautz Guillaume (SO Avignon), Vargas Arno (Dragons Handi), Verdi Yann (SO Avignon), Zittel Adrien (Arbent).
